Collapsible box



Dec. 9, 1941. c. A. sroPPER 2,255,326

COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filed March 2, 1939 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1941 COLLAPSIBLE BOX Charles A. Stopper, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to Diamond Paper and Box Co., Philadelphia, Pa., a partnership composed of Isreal Dukes and Benjamin M. Zieve Application March 2, 1939, Serial No. 259,354

1 Claim.

This invention relates to collapsible boxes preferably made from cardboard or similar material and adapted to be folded to provide selflocking means between sections of the box.

In department stores and the like, it has been the custom to provide collapsible cardboard boxes for packing articles, the collapsible box being preferred in that when in a flat condition it occupies a minimum amount of space. Heretofore, such boxes have either had portions thereof joined together by means of staples; or various sections were provided with slots to receive flaps for holding the box together. The stapling of the portions together or the insertion ofv flaps in slots required an appreciable amount of time and consequently has been found objectionable.

It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible box preferably made of cardboard or similar material which can be folded into a selflocking condition without resort to staples, or the in-sertion of flaps through slots.

A further object is the provision of a collapsible box which can be shipped and stored in an entirely flat condition, the box being provided with scored lines to enable it to be foldedl rapidly and conveniently into a shape adapted for packing desired articles.

'I'hese and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the box embodying this invention is made,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a box in a folded position, the box being shown open to receive articles for packing,

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the box in a position to be closed, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the box in a closed position.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1, is shown a blank from which the box is made. The blank which is an elongated rectangle in profile with straight edges is preferably made from cardboard or similar material adapted to receive scored lines along which it can be folded. The

box is provided with a. bottom section I having side sections 2 and an end section 3, the sections 2 and 3 being connected to the bottom section I by scored lines l and 5 respectively. The side sections 2 are provided with extensions 6 connected to the sides 2 by scored lines 1 the extension 6 being spaced slightly from end section 3. Y

The box has a top section 8 provided with side sections 9 and an end section III, which sections are connected to the top section 8 by means of scored lines Il and I2 respectively.

The box is provided with a back section I3 which is connected to the bottom section I and the top section 8 by scored lines I4 and I5 respectively.

The side sections 9 are provided with extensions I6 in alinement with the back section I3 and connected to the side sections 9 by vscored lines Il. The Iend section I0 has connected thereto by scored lines I8, sections I9 adapted to be folded along diagonal line 20, the sections I9 also being connected to the side sections 9 along scored lines 2l and their corners cut diagonally at right angles to the folding line 20.

In folding the blank to provide a box, the sections are folded along the scored lines so that the side sections 2 and the end section 3 are at right angles to the bottom section as shown in Fig. 2, the extensions 6 of the side sections 2 being positioned on the inner side of the end section 3. Similarly, side sections 9 and end section I0 ofthe top 8 are folded so that they are at right angles to the top section, with the extensions I6 of the side sections 9 folded inwardly to rest upon the back I3. The sections I9 are folded along the scored lines I8, 20 and 2|,

In closing the box, the end section 3 of the bottom I is folded in between the end section I0 of the top and the sections I9, as shown in Fig. 3. The extensions 6 are positioned beneath the sections I9. To facilitate folding of the top adjacent the back I3, notches 22 are provided between the sides 9 and extensions I6.

The end section I0 is provided with a pair of spaced slots 23 shaped in the manner of the bases equilateral triangles having opposed inreaching terminals and adapted to receive tabs 24 forming a part of a ap 25 on the end section 3, for the purpose of Vpositively holding the sections together. The flap 25 is exibly connected to the bottom I, sheared from the end section 3 and presents a generally triangular shape terminating in opposed symmetrically curved tabs suited to pass through the longitudinal portions of the slots 23 and extend outwardly therebeyond in juxtaposition with the outer surface of the end section Ill. However, it has been found that suicient resistance is provided by engagement of the end section 3 with the end section I0 and the folded sec- 2 y tions is ywhom the box in a substantially tightly there has been provided a collapsible box of simple structure which can be readily folded from a blank as above described without requiring the use of staples or slots to receive naps for holding the sections of the box together.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and notas restrictive or limitative of the invention of which', obviously, embodiments may be constructed, including many modifications, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein set forth and denoted in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a collapsible box. a bottom having side sections and an end section connected thereto along scored lines, said side sections having extensions separated from and foldable under the end section, a top having side sections and an end section connected thereto by scored lines, a. back connected to said top and bottom and separated therefrom by scored lines. extensions on the side sections of said top adapted to be folded over th'e back. and connecting sections joining the side sections and the end section of the top, said connecting sections being foldable along diagonal lines to provide portions receiving the end section of the bottom beneath the end section of the top and in contact therewith, the extensions on the side sections of the bottom being positioned beneath said folded portions.

` CHARLES A STOPPER. 

